Esme Tombleson Awards 2011

Person with MS of the Year – Sandra Perry

My name is Sandra Perry and in December 2006 I was diagnosed with MS. This news forced me to re evaluate my life and explore all the options for staying well. A good friend lent me George Jelineks book “Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis” which I read and his recommendations really resonated with me. As luck would have it, the first MS retreat run by George was in early 2007 so my husband and I booked in and off we went. The week was fantastic and I decided that the way forward for me was to embrace the recommendations. I am lucky to have a supportive family and with promises not to make them eat anything to “way out” I began the diet.

It was tough in the beginning coming to grips with ingredients that I had never heard of before as well as trying to justify my dietary decisions to well meaning friends and extended family. What I needed was someone to go and talk to, get recipe ideas and get advice on eating out etc. My biggest concern was if I went to a conventional dietician/ nutritionist I wouldn't get the support that I needed and it would be very easy just to give up and I didn’t need a lecture on “where was I now going to get my iron and calcium from since I had chosen to exclude Meat and Dairy”. So I muddled along for a couple of years sourcing recipes, experimenting but in the back of my mind I kept hoping that I was doing everything right.

One day I was chatting with my doctor who surprisingly was very supportive of the dietary regime and my dedication to my health and he suggested that I go and get a Nutrition qualification so that I could help others in the same situation.

So with great trepidation I enrolled in the Diploma of Nutrition offered by Wellpark Natural Therapies College. The work load was full on but I loved the fact that I now understood at a deeper level where Jelinek was coming from with his recommendations. I also came to realise that Nutrition has so much to offer in supporting health and well being yet is largely ignored by the medical profession which I find frustrating.

In April 2011 I graduated after 2 ½ years and am now a qualified Nutritionist. I have set up my own private practice and while I deal in all aspects of Nutrition my passion continues to be working with and helping those with MS. I believe that I have so much to offer my MS clients, not just regarding nutrition but at a personal level as well. I am not going to deny that some days can be tough especially when I see clients that are severely debilitated with MS, but in a way it strengthens and reaffirms my resolve to do everything I can to stay well and how important it is to share my knowledge with others.

I recently had a newly diagnosed client send the following message to a friend that had referred her to me

“Just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you so much for putting Martin and I in touch with Sandra. She is such an amazing person and so positive. I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear everything she had to say!”

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Caregiver of the Year 2011 - Bruce Cameron

Bruce Cameron, (now 64) is a full-time caregiver for his wife Margaret who was formally diagnosed with MS some 20 years ago. Margaret continued working as a primary school teacher until approximately 20 years ago when she was forced to give up her job because of fatigue and lack of mobility.

At this time Bruce was working full time as a food technologist for International Flavours and Fragrances. Margaret's condition gradually worsened and she eventually became wheel chair bound. Bruce continued working balancing the needs of his profession with the running of a household.

In 2008 Bruce gave up his career and became a full time caregiver looking after his wife's needs balancing the needs of his family and doing volunteer work in the community.

Bruce has been on the Committee of the MS Society for approximately 15 years and during the last 10 of these has been Secretary for the MS Society of Auckland and more recently Secretary of the merged Multiple Sclerosis Society of Auckland and North Shore.

In the midst of this Bruce spent time as Manager of the MS Society of Auckland following the departure of Nadine Plet, and prior to the appointment of Gary McMahon.

Along with this Bruce has taken an active role in the Annual MS Street Appeal and has organised twin sites in East Auckland on each of the last four appeals. His collection sits have regularly featured in the top few the Auckland.

Bruce has had a long association with the Scout movement and was awarded the Silver Tui for his services to Scouting. He has also been a member of the St John's Ambulance Auckland division.

More recently however he offered his services to Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol as Secretary as well as being an in-flight observer. He is also serving with Maraetai Coastguard on their rescue vessel.

Bruce has also been a member of Kiwanis since 2004 and is present elect of the Pakuranga-Howick Club and has served as Treasurer of this club which focuses on the needs of children in our society.

Bruce has encouraged Margaret to expand her horizons and as a result Margaret now has a Mobility Assistance Dog and has just embarked on a new venture with Riding for the disabled.

Bruce continues to balance his life looking after Margaret, doing community service and looking after the needs of his family and friend.